#012: The Language of Survival

This episode of Un:Curve: The Podcast is titled “The Language of Survival: How TikTok's Ban Is Showcasing American Adaptation." The episode explores the unintended consequences of the US government's ban on the social media platform, TikTok, owned by the Chinese company, ByteDance. The ban, enacted in April 2024 due to concerns about Chinese influence on American culture, required ByteDance to sell TikTok to a US company or face a shutdown by January 19, 2025.

Rather than the anticipated backlash, a surprising trend emerged: Americans, particularly Gen Z influencers and digital marketers, are flocking to Duolingo to learn Mandarin. This phenomenon is attributed to the emergence of RedNote, a Chinese-owned social media platform that replaced TikTok. RedNote's distinctly Chinese cultural ethos and language barrier make it difficult for Americans to fully participate, prompting them to adapt by learning Mandarin.

Here are the key topics covered:

• The US government's ban on TikTok and the reasons behind it.

• The unexpected rise in Americans learning Mandarin on Duolingo.

• The emergence of RedNote, a Chinese-owned social media platform that replaced TikTok.

• The cultural and linguistic differences between RedNote and Western social media platforms, and the challenges they pose for Americans.

• The irony of the ban bringing Americans closer to Chinese culture, albeit in an attempt to maintain relevance in a shifting digital landscape.

• The historical parallels of cultural exchange during times of geopolitical tension, such as the Cold War and the Space Race.

• The potential for the TikTok ban to accelerate cultural influence between the US and China, rather than hinder it.